French Cemetery, Dayton, Liberty County, Texas
Submitted by Carol Higginbotham higgie@samlink.com
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French Cemetery, Dayton, Liberty County, Texas
Submitted by Carol Higginbotham higgie@samlink.com
Located in Dayton-Kenefick area off 1008.
Directions:
Take HWY 90 from Crosby to Dayton at the first red light turn left on 321. Go to the next red light.
At this intersection of 321 is 1008 to the right to go toward Kenefick. Go 2.8 miles. French
Cemetery is on the left. There are two possible entrances. This is a well-kept cemetery. Some
headstones are broken and lying on the ground.
NOTES OF THE TRANSCRIBER: I have visited this cemetery.
Update of this cemetery is January 30, 2000. If there are any mistakes you see or know of or if
you have any additional information about this cemetery please email me at higgie@samlink.com
The Main Gate reads
French Cemetery
Associate Est. 1830
There is a Historical Plaque there and it reads:
Texas Historical Commission
French Cemetery
According to local tradition, This Cemetery derives its name from a group of French Settlers
who were killed and buried near the site sometime during the 18th century. Although no physical
evidence of the French burials has been found the name has been in common use for more than 100 years.
Referred to the mid-1800’s as the Pruett family cemetery, the graveyards is located on the land
acquired by Beasley Pruett from the Mexican Government in 1824. Upon his death in 1835, Pruett
was buried on his land grant in a now-unmarked grave.
The earliest marked grave here dated 1860, is that of Martha Day, a daugher-in-law of Beasley
Pruett. Other early Liberty County Settlers and the
Pruett Family descendants buried here includes Reason Green (1800-1868), who held several 19th
century public offices. Surnames of other prominent citizens buried here include Brashear and Linney.
Veterans of four wars and the Korean conflict are interred here.
In 1946, Landowners W. T. Jamison, Sr. (1878-1962) and J. N. Coleman (1882-1948) formerly set aside
these two acres of the French Cemetery as part of the sale of the surrounding land.
The graveyard remains an important reflection of the Liberty County History.
Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986
DBL - means double headstone
TRP - means triple headstone
FHM - means Funeral Home Marker
MHS - means Military headstone
MFS-means Military footstone
#1 - DBL
Linked together in God’s Love
SIMMONS
Tom J. Married Wanda L.
March 30, 1929 Sep 20, 1947 April 7, 1933
September 20, 1998
#2 -FHM-Sterling Funeral Home
VOTAW, Henry C.
1902-1980
#3
VOTAW, Edna Mae
“Mother”
April 21, 1912
July 16, 1967
#4-FHM-Allison Funeral Home
THIBEDOUX, No legible first name
B. 1970 D. ????
Can not make out the small tin headstone
#5-FHM-Sterling Funeral Home
THIBEDOUX, Arlene
1950-1982
#6-DBL
LEE
Rufus T. Billie L.
1930 1930- 1981
#7-DBL
SIMMONS
Gordon B. Clara Belle
October 6, 1932 March 10, 1929
August 24, 1995
MFS: For Gordon B. Simmons
SP 3 US Army
Korea
October 6 1932 + August 24 1995
#8-DBL
BATCHELOR
Luther L. Ruth B.
1895-1987 1900-1986
#9-DBL
SACKETT
John L. Married Geraldine
September 23, 1921 April 29 June 8, 1924
October 26, 1991 1942 September 5, 1998
NOTE: There is also a Sterling Funeral
Home marker for Geraldine Sackett as well.
MHS: For John L. Sackett, SR.
PFC US Army
W. W. II
Sep 23 1921 + Oct 26 1991
#10
O’NEIL, Teresa Joann
June 21, 1977
December 18, 1993
#11
PETER, Sandra
September 21, 1950
November 17, 1991
#12
Masonic Emblem on top of headstone
TABB, George Taylor
Born in Houston, Mississippi
December 1, 1848
Died at Stilson, Texas
November22, 1911
“Gone but not forgotten”
#13
WELSH, Ola
Born: 7-18-92
Died: ?-4-27
(This is the best I could make out of this headstone)
(Note this could be Wells Vs Welsh)
#14
WELSH, J. N.
B. 7-3-1883
D. 3-25-1943
(Note: this could be Wells Vs Welsh)
#15 This could be a foot stone for J. N. Welsh(Wells) There is no markings on this stone and it is small in comparison to a headstone.
#16-MHS
McCARY, Hobson Lee
TX F2 US Navy
W. W. I
August 15, 1898 January 15, 1965
Note: Hobson Lee McCary’s second headstone reads 1898-1964
#17
McCARY, Lexie P.
1901-1990
#18-DBL
Masonic Emblem
SIMMONS
Mother Father
Josephine William
8-15-1841 7-29-1836
2-15-1923 1-26-1901
#19
DAY, Martha C.
Died January 15, 1860 58yrs aged
#20
PRUETT, William P.
Born 7-28-1851 Died 7-20-1881
#21
PRUETT, Richard M.
Born December 11- 1857
Died October 22-1861
#22
PRUETT, Beasley
Born 3-18-1863
Died 11-12-1863
#23
PRUETT, Edmond
Born 3-22-1846 Died 5-2-1918
“Thy Trials ended thy rest is won”
Wife Minnie
November 3, 1886- June 15, 1937
MHS: For Edmond Pruett
TX Co F 11 BN
TX VOLS Confederate States Army
March 22,1846 +May 2, 1918
#24
PRUETT, Nash
8-18-1895 to 8-18-1895
“Suffer little children to come unto me”
#25
URN with no legible markings or dates
Located in the Pruett cemetery plott
#26
PRUETT, Lon (could be Lou)
w/o E. Pruett
Born 4-12-1842 (could be 1843)
Died 5-16-1889
“Religion filled her soul with peace
Upon a dying bed
Let faith look up let sorrow cease
She lives with Christ over head
Our loss is eternal gain she dwells
In cloudless light “
#27
LINNEY, Rebecca
W/O Beasley Pruett
Born Catahoula Parish LA.
June 22, 1829
Died at Liberty Hill, Texas
March 21, 1885
“Dear mother in
Earth’s thorny paths
How long thy feet
Have trod!
To find at last this
Peaceful rest
Safe in the arms of God”
#28
PRUETT, Beasley SR.
Born December 25, 1816
Died September 21, 1874
#29
PRUETT, James
Born October 22, 1854
Died June 23, 1882
#30
BRASHIER, Mrs. E. C.
May 13, 1860
Aged 49 years
NOTE: Broken headstone
#31
Stone Reads:
Not sure of Gravesite but is in this Cemetery
GREEN, Richard “Old Fogy”
Born: 1765 Married: 11-6-1790 Died: 2-1-1834
#32
HEMHOFF, George R.
November15, 1873
July 1, 1941
By Son
#33
GREEN, B. M.
August 18-1810
July 16, 1895
#34
GREEN, Edmond M.
Born 1851
Died 1881
#35-DBl
GREEN
“Uncle Bigon” “Aunt Ludie”
Edward R. Married Ludie L.
December 28, 1903 47 years February 27, 1903
April 22, 1989
It was a good Life
#36
ROBISON, Alna Green
1903-1963
#37-FHM
ROBISON, Clara Pete
May 19, 1918
April 13, 1994
#38-MHS
GREEN, Reason
PVT Continental Line
Rev War
January 1, 1800
February 11, 1867
#39
In Memory of
GREEN, Martha Ann
W/O Reason Green
Departed this life
February 12, 1860
In the 57th year of her aged
#40
Masonic Emblem
ROC, James
(Can not make out the whole name or if there are any other letters)
Died: February 18?? (May be 1874)
This stone has been knocked over.
#41
Broken Headstone Lying on the ground
JACOBS, Walter
4-13-188?
5-12-1887
Son of I. A. and C. B. Jacobs
(I. A. could be J. A.)
#42
“The Angels Called Him”
JACOBS, E.
Son of I. A. and C. B. Jacobs
7-8-1888 7-25-1888
(I. A. could be J. A.)
#43
JACOBS, C. B.
Wife of I. A. Jacobs
Born:11-8-1866 Died: 4-17-1890
#44
This is probably the headstone
Of I. A. JACOBS it is located in same location
As C. B. Jacobs, E. Jacobs and Walter Jacobs.
Which leads me to this conclusion.
This stone was broken into two pieces.
I was unable to turn them over to be read.
#45
“Sacred to the Memory”
LINNEY, M.
Born September 20, 1800
Died August 22, 1821
#46
“Sacred to the Memory”
LINNEY, Elizabeth
Died September 10, 1862
#47
CHRISLEY, Floyd
1901-1981
#48
“Mother”
CHRISLEY, Bessie C.
December 1882-October 1934
#49
CHRISLEY, H.
1871-1957
#50
CHRISLEY, Barney C.
Born January 1904-Died June 1935
#51
“In Loving Memory”
CHRISLEY,Paul G.
7-7-1911
1-23-1964
#52
CRIDER, J. O.
No Dates
#53
FRANKLIN, Sarah Josephine
W/O L. D. Franklin
Born June 11, 1870
Died September 16, 1889
#54-DBL
THORNTON
D. K., SR. Zula
June 8, 1909 April 1, 1912
January 20, 1997 December 6, 1993
#55-TRP
THORNTON
Robert L. SR. Esther M. Vernon L.
March 31, 1920 Jan 28, 1923 March 21, 1953
MHS: For Robert L., SR.
S. SGT US Army
World War II
March 31, 1920-April 12, 1995
#56
STUBBLEFIELD, Roy Edward
April 4, 1967-April 25, 1992
“Little Roy”
#57-DBL
“In Loving Memory”
ALEXANDER
John Presley Vida Pearl
June 12, 1892 March 1, 1896
June 15, 1974 February 4, 1978
#58
ALEXANDER, Aline Elizabeth
August 28, 1985
October 19, 1985
#59
ALEXANDER, Leroy
July 27, 1959
December 23, 1989
#60
ALEXANDER, C. B. “Wig”
July 25, 1924
January 28, 1989
#61
PARKER, Baby Boy
1972-1972
#62
PARKER, Baby Girl
1972-1972
#63-DBL
MEADOWS
James Robert Izzy Ozella
October 10, 1910 January 14, 1911
September 21, 1997 November 11, 1991
#64-DBL
PARKER
Alvie Leroy Married Mary Alice
June 9, 1931 June 22, 1951 October 23, 1931
August7, 1986
#65
PARKER, Donnie Lynn
1970
#66
PARKER, Ronnie Lynn
1970
#67
“Father”
PARKER, Willie (could be also known as Willice)
September 6, 1892-December 8, 1972
“In Loving Memory”
#68
“Mother”
PARKER, Mollie
September 6, 1897-July 15, 1992
“In Loving Memory”
#69-DBL
PARKER
Hardy Ida G.
September 15, 1894 January 30, 1899
January 20, 1985 January 27, 1983
#70-DBL
PARKER
Avery Preston Goldie
December 19, 1919 October 19, 1925
MHS: For Avery Preston Parker
SF 2 US Navy
World War II
Dec 19, 1919
Apr 29, 1992
#71
PARKER,Charles Vernon
January 26, 1957
June 5, 1980
“Loving Husband and Father”
Has High School Photo
#72
CAMPBELL, Howard
November 5, 1900
March 17, 1960
#73-DBL
FINGLEMAN
Joseph E. Della Brandon
October 27, 1888 December 7, 1894
December 1, 1957 December 6, 1987
74-MHS
FINGLEMAN, Joel E.
TX TEC 5 3349 QM Co
World War II
September 9, 1915-November 10, 1963
#75-MHS
FINGLEMAN, Fredick, SR.
PFC US Army
World War II
1918-1983
(WP~FSF~JR.)
This was written on an cememt pad with a stick.
#76-DBL
FINGLEMAN
Edwin M. Eunice B.
February 14, 1992 December 5, 1927
#78-FHM
VOTAW, Hilton Hoy
1915-1986
MFS
Votaw, Hilton Hoy
SGT US Army Air Corps
World War II
July 3 1915 + Sept 2 1986
#79-DBL
VOTAW
“FATHER” “MOTHER”
Jacob Willis Ida Gertrude
Sept 30, 1904 Nov 10, 1910
Sept 01, 1969 July 30, 1975
#80-DBL
HOWARD
Billie J. Donald R.
Nov 22, 1935 May 14, 1931
Aug 30, 1993
#81-FHM-Sterling Funeral Home
HOWARD, Susan
NO DATES
#82
HOWARD, Gertrude O.
June 12, 1907
August 13, 1961
“Thy Lord is my Refuge”
#83-MHS
HOWARD, Jacob P.
SP4 US Navy
Mar 17, 1938 Apr 17, 1994
#84-FHM
MURPHY, Loyd D.
MHS OR MFS
Loyd David Murphy
CPL US Marine Corps
Korea
Oct 4, 1930 + Sep 24, 1979
#85-DBL
HOWARD
Phillip A. Married Gloria G.
Aug 15, 1941 Dec. 18, Oct 29, 1943
Oct 26, 1996
#86-FAMILY PLOTT
VOTAW
“Eternally in his Care”
A.) “Our Little Angel”
Donita Michelle
“Shell”
1969-1972
B.) Thorpe M.
Feb 3, 1911
Feb 8, 1968
C.) Votaw, Pamela Joy
Wheelus
July 31, 1956 March 12, 1992
Daughter
Your Home Rest in Peace
This ends the Votaw Plott
#87
Main Head Stone Reads:
FERGUSON
Earnest W. 1900-1966 (this could read 1900 - 1906)
Laura 1910 no other date
#88
THAIN, William Franklin
“Beloved Son and Brother”
Born Sept. 1, 1957
Killed Oct 1, 1984
There is a small footstone reading W.F.T.
#89-FHM
HOLLERBACH, Walter
1927-1998
#90-DBL
FRANKLIN
“DADDY” Married “MOTHER”
Clarence Mar 28, Corrine E.
Aug 4, 1914 1948 Feb 12, 1929
Feb 9, 1982
“In Loving Memory” “In Loving Memory”
MFS:
+
Clarence Franklin
CMM US Navy
World War II
Aug 4, 1914 - Feb 9 1982
#91
BROWNLEE, John Paul
2-9-1950 1-24-1975
#92-FHM
PETERS, Everett E.
1924-1973